Hospice Program Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Hospice Program Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hospice Program Director in the United States is $132,970 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $64.

However, a Hospice Program Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $153,240
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $118,770 to $143,580
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $105,842

Key Factors That Influence Hospice Program Director Salaries

A Hospice Program Director's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Hospice Program Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Hospice Program Director's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $124,280
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $125,552
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $127,671
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $129,791
  • Expert (over 8 years): $133,287
Levels Salary
Entry Level Hospice Program Director$124,280
Intermediate Level Hospice Program Director$125,552
Senior Level Hospice Program Director$127,671
Specialist Level Hospice Program Director$129,791
Expert Level Hospice Program Director$133,287

Top Paying Cities for Hospice Program Directors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $167,710
  • San Francisco: $165,880
  • Oakland: $162,380

What Skills Can Increase a Hospice Program Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 14% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Clinical Leadership (Mentioned in 3.16% Job Postings): Overseeing and coordinating clinical operations while balancing patients' and business needs to achieve quality and safety of care outcomes.
  • Quality Assurance (Mentioned in 1.81% Job Postings): Verifying the adherence of product with required specifications and expectations to track and resolve deficiencies prior to product release.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 14%
Clinical Leadership 3.16%
Quality Assurance 1.81%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Hospice Program Director's salary.

  • Drug Enforcement: Can increase your salary by up to 31%.
  • Record Keeping: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Medical Management: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Drug Enforcement $174,191
31%
Record Keeping $156,905
18%
Medical Management $152,916
15%

Hospice Program Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Hospice Program Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $141,133. While startup companies pay approximate $120,187.

Hospice Program Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $120,187
Growth Stage 51~500 $126,903
Established 501~5000 $136,487
Enterprise 5000+ $141,133

Hospice Program Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Hospice Program Director roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Hospice Program Director positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Hospice Program Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Hospice Program Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$159,564$77.020%

How Education impacts a Hospice Program Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Hospice Program Directors enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Hospice Program Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $127,929 and $138,301).

Hospice Program Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Hospice Program Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.2%
High School 1.2%
Associates 14.1%
Bachelors 36.5%
Masters 47.1%
Doctorate 1.2%

Hospice Program Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Hospice Program Director's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$118,770
Average $132,970/year
$143,580
$9,898
Average $11,081/month
$11,965
$2,284
Average $2,557/week
$2,761
$57
Average $64/hour
$69
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $143,580 $11,965 $2,761 $69
Average $132,970 $11,081 $2,557 $64
25th Percentile $118,770 $9,898 $2,284 $57

Hospice Program Director Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Hospice Program Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Medical Education Director role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $193,800 - a projected growth of 46% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Hospice Program Director

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Hospice Program Director

Here are companies hiring for Hospice Program Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Hospice Program Director

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Hospice Program Director?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Hospice Program Director roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

2. How much does the CEO of hospice make?

The salary for a Hospice Program Director typically ranges from $118,320 to $154,260 annually, with a mid-range salary of about $134,730. This is significantly higher than the reported salaries for hospice CEOs in cities like Palo Alto, CA, where the annual salary is around $96,564.

3. How much does a director of bayada hospice make?

A Hospice Program Director typically earns between $118,320 and $154,260 annually, with a median salary of around $134,730. This range reflects the competitive compensation for such roles in the healthcare sector, aligning closely with industry standards.

4. What is the highest salary of a director?

The highest salary for a Hospice Program Director is $154,260 annually. Salaries typically range from a minimum of $118,320 to a midpoint of $134,730, reflecting the varying levels of experience and responsibility within the role.

5. What does a CEO of a hospice do?

As a Hospice Program Director, you oversee staff, review daily reports, and ensure that organizational goals align with compassionate patient care. You manage budgets and ensure accurate billing. The salary for this role ranges from $118,320 to $154,260, with a midpoint of $134,730, reflecting the importance and responsibility of the position.

6. Who is paid more a manager or director?

Typically, managers earn between $40,000 and $112,000, while Hospice Program Directors have a significantly higher salary range. The minimum salary for a Hospice Program Director is $118,320, with a mid-range salary of $134,730 and a maximum of $154,260. This indicates that directors generally earn more than managers.

7. How much profit does a hospice business make?

The profit of a hospice business varies significantly. The median cost is $6,737 per patient, with a median pretax profit of $334 per patient. Without grants and donations, the median profit drops to $63 per patient. For a Hospice Program Director, salaries range from $118,320 to $154,260, reflecting the financial dynamics of the industry.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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